Interactive virtual library system for expeditiously providing automatic updates of user-desired information from content providers, at least one of which is commercial, to users

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an interactive library system having a computer in telecommunication link with at least one user computer and computer of at least one content provider requiring payment for information access. The interactive library system provides information from the content provider to the user by the following steps: Receiving, by the library system computer, user identification and password from the user computer. Comparing, by the library system computer, the received user identification and password with authorized user identifications and corresponding passwords stored in the library system to determine whether to grant access to the interactive library system. If the comparison results in grant of access, then the interactive library system provides the following steps: Receiving, by the library system computer, input from the user computer specifying type of information desired by the user. Establishing, by the library system computer, telecommunication link with the content provider computer. Transmitting, by the library system computer, the type of information desired by the user as search request to the content provider computer. Receiving, by the library system computer, result of the search request from the content provider computer. And providing, by the library system computer, the result to the user computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interactive virtual library system.More specifically, this invention relates to an interactive virtuallibrary system for expeditiously providing automatic updates ofuser-desired information from content providers, at least one of whichis a commercial content provider, to users.

Presently, a user of a personal computer (“PC”) can access informationfrom a content provider, such as Lexis®-Nexis® or WestLaw® or U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission world wide web site, by establishinga telecommunication link with the computer of the content provider andperforming a search to obtain the information desired by the user. Forexample, the search may seek all relevant information in the databasesaccessible to the content provider pertaining to a specific company.Generally, the search results will be displayed on the user's monitor innumerical or chronological order.

While the conventional systems for accessing desired information fromcontent providers are satisfactory, there are disadvantages presented bythese systems. First, with existing systems, there is required muchnavigation (i.e., using an input device, such as a PC “mouse” or akeyboard, to go through various files and display pages) by the user toobtain the desired information from the various relevant databases. Forexample, with the conventional systems, a user has to establish aseparate telecommunication link with each content provider to accessthat content provider's databases. With commercial content providers,i.e., content providers requiring payment for information access, theuser generally has to enter at least authorized user identification andpassword in order to establish a telecommunication link. Then afterestablishing the telecommunication link, the user is required tonavigate to obtain the desired information. This process becomes moreand more cumbersome as the number of content providers accessed by theuser increases.

Second, the existing systems do not provide for much, if any,customization of user interfaces. For example, there may be specificinformational topics from Lexis®-Nexis® or another content provider forwhich a first user desires periodic information updates. If the firstuser is an employee of a company in charge of monitoring the activitiesof competitors, these topics may include financial news relating to eachof the competitors, news relating to all lawsuits filed in the industry,and information pertaining to any patents, copyrights or trademarksobtained by the competitors. A second user, by contrast, may desireinformation updates from specific legal periodicals and technicaljournals. Despite the different informational topics desired by thefirst and second users, however, the user interface provided by aconventional system to both users is the same.

A third disadvantage of the conventional systems is illustrated by thefollowing example. After the user has reviewed the desired informationfrom a content provider, she may want to contact an appropriate personto discuss what she read. For example, if what she read relates toissuance of a patent to a competitor that effects her company'sproducts, then she may want to contact the company's outside patentcounsel for advice. With existing systems, there is no way for her toinitiate contact with the outside patent counsel within the system. Ifshe wants to use e-mail for this purpose, then she will have to go tothe e-mail application and run it.

What is desired, therefore, is an interactive virtual library systemthat addresses the above-described disadvantages of existing systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a virtuallibrary system that minimizes navigation by a user in obtaining desiredinformation from various databases and from various content providers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a virtual library systemthat has a customizable user interface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a virtual librarysystem that expeditiously allows a user to contact a person specified bythe user regarding the information obtained.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a virtual librarysystem having the above-described features adaptable for both intranetand extranet use.

These and other objects are achieved by an interactive library systemhaving a computer in telecommunication link with at least one usercomputer and computer of at least one content provider requiring paymentfor information access. The interactive library system providesinformation from the content provider to the user by the followingsteps:

-   (i) receiving, by the library system computer, user identification    and password from the user computer;-   (ii) comparing, by the library system computer, the received user    identification and password with the authorized user identifications    and corresponding passwords stored in the interactive library system    to determine whether to grant access to the interactive library    system;-   (iii) if comparison results in grant of access, then-   (iv) receiving, by the library system computer, input from the user    computer specifying type of information desired by the user;-   (v) establishing, by the library system computer, telecommunication    link with the content provider computer;-   (vi) transmitting, by the library system computer, the type of    information desired by the user as a search request to the content    provider computer;-   (vii) receiving, by the library system computer, result of the    search request from the content provider computer; and-   (viii) providing, by the library system computer, the result to the    user computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an interactive library system of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the operation of the interactive librarysystem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing additional functionalities providable tothe interactive library system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a customized user interface provided bythe interactive library system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an interactive library system 10 of thepresent invention in telecommunication link with user computers, onlytwo of which are shown as reference numerals 12, 14, viatelecommunication lines 16, 18, respectively. The interactive librarysystem 10 and the user computers 12, 14 may be part of an intranet,i.e., internal company network, or an extranet, i.e., network where thelibrary system 10 is accessible to outside third party users. As will beapparent to someone skilled in the art, the interactive library system10 of the present invention is configured to work in both intranet andextranet system architecture.

The library system 10 is also in telecommunication link with computersof content providers, only two of which are shown by reference numerals20, 22, via telecommunication lines 24, 26, respectively. At least oneof the content providers is a commercial content provider, i.e.requiring payment for information access. The telecommunication linksmay be over a local area network (“LAN”) or an Internet connection usinga public switched phone network or a cable network. Connection may alsobe provided by dedicated data lines, cellular, Personal CommunicationSystems (“PCS”), microwave, satellite networks, or other means known inthe art.

The library system 10 of FIG. 1 includes a computer 30 having amicroprocessor and memory, and a storage unit 32. The computer 30 may bea server. A program 34, which is preferably stored in memory of computer30, is operable on the microprocessor. The operation of the program 34will be described in greater detail with respect to FIG. 2. As usedherein, “program” may be source code having one or more subroutines orobject code or the like. The storage unit 32, which is preferably adatabase, stores data related to users, such as authorized useridentifications and corresponding passwords, user account data, and typeof information desired by the users. It should be noted that datarelated to users may be stored in more than one storage unit. While FIG.1 shows the storage unit 32 as part of the library system 10, it shouldbe apparent to one skilled in the art that the storage unit may beexternal to the library system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the interactive library system10 of FIG. 1. At step 100, a user computer 12, 14 establishes atelecommunication link with the library system 10. The user will then beprompted to provide a user identification and password (step 102). UserID and password may be input by the user through a keyboard, voicerecognition system or other known input means, or the user ID andpassword may be stored in memory of the user computer 12, 14 andprovided to the library system 10. At step 104, the library system 10,preferably the microprocessor of the library computer 30, compares thereceived user ID and password with authorized user IDs and correspondingpasswords stored in the storage unit 32.

If the received user ID and password are found to be authorized, thenthe user is allowed access into the library system 10; otherwise, theuser is prompted to provide another user ID and password (step 106). Ifaccess is allowed, then at step 108, the user may: (i) input type ofinformation desired, e.g., financial news relating to companies in aspecific industry; or (ii) choose to use a previously input searchrequest, e.g., request for financial news relating to companies in aspecific industry saved previously; or (iii) use a preselected searchrequest, e.g., a selectable icon labeled “Internet-related Lawsuits”appearing on the user interface, the selection of which (such as byclicking with a PC “mouse”) is a request for information relating toInternet-related lawsuits. As used herein, “search request” is to beconstrued broadly, to include any request for information, such asentering search terms, selecting an icon or a hyperlink, etc.

At step 110, the library system 10 establishes a telecommunicationlink(s) with relevant preselected content provider(s) based on theuser's search request. In the preferred embodiment, at least one of thecontent providers is a commercial content provider. For example, if therequest is for financial news relating to companies in a specificindustry, the library system 10 may establish telecommunication linkswith preselected commercial content providers, such as Lexis®-Nexis® andWestLaw®, as well as preselected free content providers available on theInternet. Relevant content providers' information (e.g., Internetprotocol address or web site domain name) is stored in either the memoryof the library computer 30 or the storage unit 32 such that the program34 may operate the microprocessor to access this stored information toenable the library system 10 to establish telecommunication links withthe preselected content providers. Where necessary, such as for contentproviders which require user ID and password for access, the program 34further operates the microprocessor of the library computer 30 to accesssuch stored information from either the memory of the library computeror the storage unit 32 to enable access to these content providers.

At step 112, the program 34 operates on the microprocessor of thelibrary computer 30 to transmit the user's search request to theconnected content provider(s). The result of the search request isreceived by the library system 10 from the content provider(s) at step114. Finally, at step 116, the result is provided by the library system10 to the user computer 12, 14. While not shown in FIG. 2, it should beapparent to one skilled in the art that following step 116, the librarysystem 10 may return to step 108 for additional search requests or theuser may choose to logout or otherwise end access to the library system10.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing additional functionalities that may beprovided to the interactive library system 10 of FIG. 1. In addition tothe steps set forth in FIG. 2, the user is provided with the option ofrequesting the library system 10 to perform a search request at apreselected time interval (step 130). For example, the user may requestthat a search for financial news relating to companies in a specificindustry be performed once a week. This preselected time interval chosenby the user is preferably stored in the storage unit 32. Step 130 mayfollow step 108 of FIG. 2. At step 132, the library system determineswhether the preselected time interval has transpired.

If the preselected time interval has transpired, then the library system10 performs steps 110-114 of FIG. 2. Optionally, if requested by theuser, the library system 10 may notify the user after receiving resultof the search request from the content provider(s) that such results areready for review by the user (step 134). Notification is preferably byelectronic communication means, such as an appropriate e-mail message tothe user.

Each user of the library system 10 may request that she be provided witha customized user interface. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a customizeduser interface 40 for User 1 (reference numeral 12 in FIG. 1). Thecustomized user interface 40 is developed based on information providedby the user 12. The customized user interface data is preferably storedin the storage unit 32; however, it may also be stored in the user'scomputer from which the library system 10 will access the data toprovide the customized user interface. The user interface 40 may bedeveloped using templates or other means known to those skilled in theart to provide flexibility and expeditious configurability. Along theleft-hand side and the top of the user interface 40, there are showntypes of information desired by this user—such as “Periodicals,” “SECReports,” “Competitors' Financials,” “Industry Lawsuits,” and “IssuedPatents, Copyrights, and Trademarks”—as selectable words or buttons. Theuser interface 40 is designed so that these selectable words or buttonsare accessible by the user via an input device, such as the PC “mouse.”

There is displayed a numerical list 44 of results of a search requestreceived from content providers 20, 22. For example, this may be a listof patents, copyrights and trademarks issued to competitors within thelast week. If the user desires to see an updated list of industrylawsuits, then she uses an input device to select “Industry Lawsuits.”The library system 10 will perform steps 110-116 of FIG. 2 to provide anupdated list of lawsuits on the display screen.

The user interface 40 also includes a selectable button 50 forelectronically communicating with a contactee preselected by the user.In the exemplary drawing of FIG. 4, the electronic communication meansis by e-mail and the preselected contactee is an attorney 42. As anexample, if the user 12 is reviewing the list of patents, copyrights andtrademarks issued to competitors and discovers that one of the issuedpatents relates to her company's products, then she may want toimmediately contact her company's patent counsel 42 for advice. She cancontact the patent attorney 42 by choosing the selectable button 50 withthe appropriate input device. This will automatically run the e-mailapplication, by which the desired message can be sent over anappropriate local area network, wide area network, or other connectionmeans as described above with respect to FIG. 1.

It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the configurationof the user interface in FIG. 4 is merely one of many possibilities. Thetypes of information desired by a user may be placed anywhere on thedisplay screen and in any order desired. Also, although a numerical listof relevant information is illustrated in FIG. 4, the relevantinformation may be displayed in any suitable format.

A user may be charged a fee for use of the library system 10 of thepresent invention. While not to be construed as exhaustive, thefollowing methods (alone or some combination thereof) are contemplated:First, a user may be billed based on the time amount of access to thelibrary system 10. The time amount of access data for users arepreferably stored in the storage unit 32. After a preselected timeperiod, such as one month, an account statement for the user will begenerated.

Second, a user may be billed based on the time amount of access to eachcontent provider. The time amount of access to each content providerdata for users are preferably stored in the storage unit 32. After apreselected time period, such as one month, an account statement for theuser will be generated.

Third, a user may be billed based on the time amount of access tocommercial content providers. The time amount of access to commercialcontent providers data for users are preferably stored in the storageunit 32. After a preselected time period, such as one month, an accountstatement for the user will be generated.

Fourth, a user may be billed based on the number of search queriestransmitted by the library system 10 to the content providers. Thenumber of transmitted search queries data for users are preferablystored in the storage unit 32. After a preselected time period, such asone month, an account statement for the user will be generated.

Finally, a user may be billed directly by the content providers accessedby the user through the library system 10. How to bill the user will bedetermined by each content provider accessed. For example, the user maybe billed based on the time amount of access to the content provider orthe number of search queries transmitted to the content provider. Thecontent providers will access the user information stored in the storageunit 32 of the library system 10 to generate an account statement.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the method and apparatus ofthe present invention has many applications, and that the presentinvention is not limited to the representative examples disclosedherein. Moreover, the scope of the present invention coversconventionally known variations and modifications to the methods andsystem components described herein, as would be known by those skilledin the art.

1. In an interactive library system having a computer intelecommunication link with at least one user computer and computer ofat least one content provider requiring payment for information access,a method for providing information from the content provider to the userwhich comprises: receiving, by the library system computer, useridentification and password from the user computer; comparing, by thelibrary system computer, said received user identification and passwordwith authorized user identifications and corresponding passwords storedin the library system to determine whether to grant access to theinteractive library system; if comparison results in grant of access,then receiving, by the library system computer, input from the usercomputer specifying type of information desired by the user;establishing, by the library system computer, telecommunication linkwith the content provider computer; transmitting, by the library systemcomputer, said type of information desired by the user as a searchrequest to the content provider computer; receiving, by the librarysystem computer, result of said search request from the content providercomputer; and providing, by the library system computer, said result tothe user computer.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:customizing a user interface provided by the interactive library systemto the user computer based on type of information desired by the user.3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a userinterface, by the interactive library system to the user computer, thatincludes an interactive element, the selection of said element by theuser activating a communication program to enable communication with apre-selected contactee.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining, by the library system computer, time amount of access tothe interactive library system by the user computer; and storing, in thelibrary system, said time amount of access to the interactive librarysystem by the user computer.
 5. The method of claim 4, furthercomprising: generating an account statement after a preselected periodof time based on said time amount of access for the user computer storedin the library system.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining, by the library system computer, time amount of access bythe user computer to each content provider; and storing, by the librarysystem, said time amount of access by the user computer to each contentprovider.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: generating anaccount statement after a preselected period of time based on said timeamount of access by the user computer to each content provider stored inthe library system.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining, by the library system computer, time amount of access bythe user computer via the library system computer to each contentprovider requiring payment for information access; and storing, by thelibrary system, said time amount of access by the user computer to eachcontent provider requiring payment for information access.
 9. The methodof claim 8, further comprising: generating an account statement after apreselected period of time based on said time amount of access by theuser computer to each content provider requiring payment for informationaccess stored in the library system.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: determining, by the library system computer, number of saidsearch requests transmitted to the content providers for the usercomputer; and storing, by the library system, said number of searchrequests transmitted for the user computer.
 11. The method of claim 10,further comprising: generating an account statement after a preselectedperiod of time based on said number of search requests for the usercomputer stored in the library system.
 12. The method of claim 1,further comprising: accessing, by the content providers accessed by theuser computer through the library system, preselected user informationstored in the library system; and generating an account statement, bythe content providers accessed by the user computer, after a preselectedtime period based on said preselected user information stored in thelibrary system.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving, by the library system computer, input from the user computerspecifying a preselected time interval for transmitting search requestto the content provider.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:notifying, by the library system computer, the user computer that saidresult of said search request is ready for review by the user.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein said notification is by electroniccommunication.
 16. An interactive library system providingtelecommunication links with at least one user computer and computer ofat least one content provider requiring payment for information access,which comprises: a library computer adapted to receive and transmit dataover telecommunication links, said library computer having amicroprocessor and a first storage unit; a second storage unitelectrically coupled to said library computer to store useridentifications and corresponding passwords; a program operable on saidmicroprocessor stored in said first storage unit, said program comparinguser identification and password received from the user computer withsaid user identifications and corresponding passwords stored in saidsecond storage unit to determine whether the user computer isauthorized; and said program, if the user computer is determined to beauthorized, causing said library computer to communicate with thecontent provider computer to transmit type of information desired by theuser as a search request and to receive result of said search request.17. The interactive library system of claim 16, wherein said first andsecond storage units are the same.
 18. The interactive library system ofclaim 16, which further comprises: a third storage unit electricallycoupled to said library computer to store user-specific data.
 19. Theinteractive library system of claim 18, wherein said user-specific dataincludes customized user interface data.
 20. The interactive librarysystem of claim 18, wherein said user-specific data includes useraccount data.
 21. The interactive library system of claim 20, whereinsaid user account data includes time amount of access by the usercomputer to said library computer.
 22. The interactive library system ofclaim 20, wherein said user account data includes time amount of accessby the user computer via said library computer to the computer of eachcontent provider requiring payment for information access.
 23. Theinteractive library system of claim 18, wherein said second and thirdstorage units are the same.